Having finished 2003 on a high, King's Head came unstuck at Redcar where Ennis Square once again proved to be the Guisborough side's bogey team.

Crucial to Ennis Square's win was debutant David Tait, who capped a man-of-the-match performance with the opening goal on 15 minutes.

Michael Dexter floated in a pin-point free kick that Tait converted with a brilliant turn and volley that flew into the top corner of the net.

Ennis continued to have the better of the chances created during the rest of the game, although it took a great save from keeper Kevin Watson to keep out a Brian Crawley effort that looked destined for the back of the net shortly before half-time.

It was not until the last minute that Ennis clinched the three points.

With King's Head continuing to push forward for an equaliser, they were finally caught on the break and Stephen Lee Gent scored from Wayne Skelton's quickly-taken free-kick.

WOODMAN'S ARMS 3, MIDDLESBROUGH POST OFFICE 5

WOODMANS started well in the day's other top-of-the-able clash - but it was the Post Office who took the lead on 12 minutes when John Symon volleyed home a Paul Davies corner.

Just minutes later it was 2-0 when Symon broke down the right wing before crossing to Scott Hislop who swept the ball home from close range.

At the other end, the Post Office keeper needed to be on his toes to thwart a number of threatening moves as the Woodman's tried desperately to get back into the game.

Despite their best efforts, however, the Woodman's fell further behind on the hour mark when Mark Brydon broke away and his cross-shot floated over the keeper and into the back of the net.

The home side finally got some reward for their efforts when Paul Reid was brought down in the box and Paul Ritchie duly converted from the penalty spot.

A Post Office breakaway following a Woodman's corner, however, ended with John Leach restoring the Post Office's three-goal advantage.

Jeff Maloney added a touch of respectability to the scoreline when his looping shot ended up in the back of the net.

And even though Leach scored his second of the game when he tapped home the rebound from Paul McGlade's shot, Steve Sheraton had the final word when his free-kick curled into the top corner of the net from 25 yards out.

ST MARY'S COLLEGE OB 0, STOKESLEY SC 1

HAVING finished off last year on a high with an outstanding result against the Post Office, St Mary's College's roller-coaster of a season took another dip when they lost by a single goal to Stokesley.

A young Stokesley side chased and harried the College throughout a goalless first half that limited St Mary's to just one serious chance when Steve Kennan failed to hit the target when through one-on-one with the keeper.

With the home side failing to match the battling qualities shown by Stokesley, the outcome was a formality once Stokesley scored from a set piece ten minutes into the second half.

Kevin Wilson's inswinging corner kick was met by centre back Nathan Jackman who celebrated his birthday in style with a bullet header that had the net bulging.

But any thoughts that this might kick start St Mary's into action soon disappeared as Stokesley pushed forward and started to control the midfield and only a double save from Thomas Straker prevented Stokesley from taking a 2-0 lead.

BRITISH STEEL SPORTS 3, THORNABY MANDALE 3

THERE was another upset at Dormanstown where British Steel Sports twice came from behind,then took the lead before sharing the points with Thornaby Mandale.

Mandale took the lead as early as the sixth minute which they held until the hour mark when Scott McCabe scrambled the ball home from close range.

Five minutes later Mandale were back in front - but two goals in as many minutes saw British Steel take the lead.

Anthony Biswas fired home the equaliser before McCabe got on the end of a cross from Jason Downing.

Mandale averted a total disaster when they levelled the scores with just five minutes remaining.

COULBY NEWHAM 3, PJS 3

PJS KEPT their unbeaten run intact despite going behind in the first minute when Matty Simmonds hit an unstoppable free-kick from just outside the area.

Four minutes later it was all square but Simmonds gave Coulby the lead for the second time firing home another free-kick in almost similar circumstances to the first.

PJS levelled shortly before the break and took the lead with 15 minutes to go despite being down to ten men.

Coulby took a share of the points when the ball broke to Richard Cook who ran through to level the scores yet again.

NS BULL'S HEAD 1, LINX HEMLINGTON 5

GOALS from Peter King (two), Gary Smith, Neil McCloughlin and Darren Hakami helped Linx's recent improvement to continue while Mick Thornton hit the Bull's Head's consolation goal when he got on the end of Sean Oldfield's corner.

SOUTH BANK UTD 2, SOUTH PARK RANGERS 2

THE only goal of a fairly even first half came when Alan French's cross-shot ended up in the top corner of the United net.

United keeper Lee Stolweather had to pull off a number of saves to prevent Rangers from increasing their lead and they got back into the game when Lodge fired home the equaliser early in the second half.

Lifted by the goal, United upped the tempo and went ahead when Gregory and Calvert combined to set up Anthony Reid who made no mistake from ten yards out.

South Bank United had chances to put the game beyond Rangers reach but with 15 minutes remaining the visitors struck again.

THORNABY VILLAGE 5, NORTH SKELTON VILLAGE 0

North Skelton Village managed to limit the Thornaby side to just a single goal scored by Andy Dunn on his return from injury.

The second half, however, saw Thornaby Village totally dominate the game and they wasted no time extending their lead when Geoff Belt beat the offside trap before sticking the ball in the bottom corner of the net.

Paul Jennison then set up Gareth Evans who scored from the edge of the area and the goal spree continued when Jennison tapped in the easiest of chances from close range.

Substitute Mike McClaren rounded off the scoring ten minutes from time with Jennison once again the provider.